US Navy’s New $4.4 Billion Ship, Not So Reliable

On Monday, the US Navy’s largest & priciest destroyer was sent out to sea for its final trials before its transfer to military.

This future USS Zumwalt features an angled exterior, looking like a hybrid of something out of James Bond movie & Soviet Russia.

Staff from the Bath Iron Works along with the Navy crew members will be on board the costliest ship during trials for testing & preparing the ship for delivery.

Once the round of trials is done over with, US Navy will initiate its own testing, to determine ship’s capabilities in the diverse sea conditions, such as extremely rough waters.

“We go to find the most miserable places in ocean & drive at various sea stages,” said Rear Adm. Peter Fanta, who is the director of surface warfare.

However ornamental the ship may look, USS Zumwalt’s development has been rough. The 600-foot ship will cost at least 4.4 billion dollars, that is more than 2x the cost of Navy’s current Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers.

In Early 1990s, when the ship was originally proposed Navy had ordered around 31 of the destroyers. As the costs soared, the commanders reduced the order down to 3. At one point, deciding to abandon the program completely.

At the moment, US Navy developing an entirely new destroyer & is also building the updated Arleigh Burke destroyers.

The design of the ship that is worth $4.4 Billion is very different from the destroyers past. Its sloped “tumble home” exterior allegedly makes it harder for the radar to detect it, it also needs a smaller crew for operation, the ship features 2 massive guns with the incredible accuracy & attack power, and the deck can accommodate more aircraft

Some Navy officials, however called into question its seaworthiness, claiming that the new hull shape leaves the ship vulnerable to roll over in certain conditions. Defense experts said it is vulnerable to submarine attacks and is rather of little use for current naval needs.

Now that 1 of the ships is complete, the trials & an inspection by US Navy are all that remain before USS Zumwalt’s commissioning.

If it goes well, the Zumwalt will be commissioned in Oct., reported the USNI News. In San Diego will it be stationed.